RENTERS will be given greater protection from eviction under a major shake-up proposed by the Government.

Rent: A major shake-up of the rental sector is being proposed by the Government (Image: GETTY)

A consultation is under way to stop private landlords being able to use so-called “no-fault” evictions, which gives families as little as eight weeks’ notice after a fixed-term contract has come to an end. If the new legislation is passed, landlords will no longer be able to kick tenants out at short notice and without good reason using the Section 21 process. Housing, Communities and Local Government Secretary James Brokenshire said the proposed changes would effectively create open-ended tenancies. Mr Brokenshire said the Government was taking action because the Section 21 process is one of the biggest causes of family homelessness.

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He added: "By abolishing these kinds of evictions, every single person living in the private rented sector will be empowered to make the right housing choice for themselves - not have it made for them.

"And this will be balanced by ensuring responsible landlords can get their property back where they have proper reason to do so."

Prime Minister Theresa May said private sector renters have the right "to feel secure in their home, settled in their community and able to plan for the future with confidence".

She added: ”But, millions of responsible tenants could still be uprooted by their landlord with little notice, and often little justification.

Getting this new legislation through Parliament is critical to people being able to stay in their rented home as long as they need

Polly Neate, Shelter

"This is wrong - and today we're acting by preventing these unfair evictions.

"Landlords will still be able to end tenancies where they have legitimate reasons to do so, but they will no longer be able to unexpectedly evict families with only eight weeks' notice."

The proposals would see landlords having to provide a "concrete, evidenced reason already specified in law" for bringing tenancies to an end.

At present landlords can evict tenants at any time after the fixed-term contract has come to an end, and without specifying a reason.

Chief executive, Polly Neate, said: "Getting this new legislation through Parliament is critical to people being able to stay in their rented home as long as they need.

“We look forward to the government passing this law as quickly as possible."

Rent: A consultation is under way to stop private landlords being able to use 'no-fault' evictions (Image: GETTY)

Shadow housing secretary John Healey said: "Any promise of new help for renters is good news, but this latest pledge won't work if landlords can still force tenants out by hiking the rent.

"For nine years, the Tories have failed to tackle problems facing private renters. Tenants need new rights and protections across the board to end costly rent increases and sub-standard homes as well as to stop unfair evictions.

"Labour is committed to giving renters the rights they deserve, including control on rents, indefinite tenancies and new legal minimum standards."

David Smith, of the Residential Landlords Association, said the body recognised there were calls for change, but warned of "serious dangers" of getting such reforms wrong.

Mr Smith said: ”With the demand for private rented homes continuing to increase, we need the majority of good landlords to have confidence to invest in new homes.

“This means ensuring they can swiftly repossess properties for legitimate reasons such as rent arrears, tenant anti-social behaviour or wanting to sell them.

“This needs to happen before any moves are made to end Section 21."

National Landlords Association chief executive Richard Lambert said property owners had to use Section 21 because they have "no confidence" in the courts to deal with possession claims "quickly and surely".

Mr Lambert told the BBC: ”If the Government introduces yet another piece of badly thought-out legislation, we guarantee there will be chaos.”

A Ministry of Housing spokesman said: "Court processes will also be expedited so landlords are able to swiftly and smoothly regain their property in the rare event of tenants falling into rent arrears or damaging the property - meaning landlords have the security of knowing disputes will be resolved quickly."